“I worked at Ruby Tuesday for almost 20 years. First at the Foley store, then Fairhope. It was my life. I did anything and everything in the kitchen and I was the salad bar guy. I worked 40 hours a week and took the bus to work every day. $2.50 each way for the first and last rides of the day. Ruby Tuesday in Fairhope closed about a month ago and I lost my job. It was one week short of my 20th anniversary.

I was walking back from Walmart when you picked me up. I got a ride to Walmart and should have had a ride home, but I was too late getting out of there. It is five miles from my house I have walked it several times. Once I had to borrow a buggy. I just spent my last dollars on food, but I am okay for a couple of weeks. I have lots of Ramen Noodles.

I live alone in my family’s house, but that is paid for. I figure I am not alone, but it feels like it. It is just me and my two cats. I am not sure how I am handling this. I postponed paying my power bill with EMC and they sent me a list of other services in the community that are trying to help

I need a job. I will do anything in a restaurant. I will cook, wash dishes, or flip pizzas. I was good at flipping when I worked at Papa Rocco’s in Gulf Shores. It is going to be hard to find a job because most employers want you to have your own transportation. I don’t have a picture ID so I have to wait for the courthouse to open back up so I can an ID to collect unemployment.

I am from Iowa and came down in a van with my sister, four kids, two dogs, and a cat. The animals were the easiest part. My grandparents relocated to Fairhope from Florida and my parents came down to be with them. My sister and I came down to be with all of them.

Someone stole my lawnmower. I need to get the weed wacker going and take care of this yard. I have cardinals, chickadees, and titmise. My dad loved feeding the birds so I keep it going. I just put the last of the food in the feeders. I can’t afford to keep feeding them right now.

You are the first person I have talked to in a few weeks. It feels good to see someone again.”